Relay



June 9 9 W. TANCRED 2,892,058

RELAY Filed Jan. 26', 1954 United States Patent RELAY L. 'Dancred, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The W. N. Borg Corporation, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 26, 1954, Serial No. 406,181

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates to relays and has for an object to provide a relay of the clapper type, but which will be unalfected by position, gravity, or shocks, and which may control, if desired, a plurality of normally open or normally closed circuits, or some of each as may be desired, and which may be operated by small current flow in a controlling circuit.

For a comple'teunderstanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a longitudinal central cross sectional view through a relay embodying the invention, the relay being shown. in ,deen ergized condition;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Figure 1, but showing the relay in energized condition.

Figures Band 4 are sectional views on lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional viewon line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the clappers.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts of the switch mechanism separated to show the several parts more clearly.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a solenoid 1 arranged within a magnetic casing 2 and having extended therethrough a magnetizable core 3 of soft iron, or the like. This core 3 flares at opposite ends and at one end is provided with acentral depression 4 within which may be seated a spool-shaped non-magnetic member 5 secured to a non-magnetic rod 6. This rod extends coaxially through thecore 3 and into a socket member 7 seated in a cylindrical recess 8 in the outer end of the core 3. s

A coil spring 9 reacts between a flange 10 of the socket member 7 and a plug 11 threaded into the outer end of the recess 8. This spring normally holds the rod 6 in the position shown in Figure 1 with the member 5 out of the recess 4. This member 5 is provided with a peripheral groove 12 within which ride the inner ends of a pair of oppositely disposed clapper elements 14 which are formed of magnetic material, such as soft iron, and secured by any suitable means, such as brazing, to the elements 14 are non-magnetic counterweights 15. These counterweights may, for example, be formed of brass.

I The clappers 14 are shown as provided adjacent to their central portions with rocker bearings 16 which engage'in the recess 12 of the member 5. The clappers are pivoted as on the pivot pins 17 (see Figure 3) which project into holes 18 in the counterweight portions and also extend into non-magnetic segments 20 which are positioned between the extended end portions 21 of the counterweights 15. These members 20 are secured in fixed positions as by means of screws 22 (see Figure 5) which extend thereto and into the casing member 2.

The rod 6 extends beyond the member 5 and carries thereon a pair of spaced disks 25 which are preferably coated with some smooth material such as porcelain to engage with slight friction on opposite sides of one or more switch arms 26. Each of these switch arms 26 7 2,892,058 Patented June 23, 1959 ice arms 30 and 31 may be carried by conductor rods 32 and 33, respectively, which extend through an end wall member 35 and may be connected to suitable circuit conductors (not shown). As shown, each of the rods 32 and 33 may be extended through washers 36 of insulation set into the wall member 35. An outer casing member 37 holds the solenoid and the switch mechanism in assembled relation. The outer end of the rod 6 may extend into a cap 38 which may close ofi the outer central portion of the wall 35.

It will be noted that the counterbalances 15 when in the relay-denergized position of Figure l, extend outwardly from the pivot pin 17 in opposite directions and that when these counterbalances are turned from this position to the position of Figure 2 by energization of the solenoid 1, they move with a large component axially of the relay and in the opposite direction to the rod 6 and the parts carried thereby. They are larger than the clappers 14 and of sutficient weight and so disposed as to counterbalance the axial motion of the rod 6 and the parts carried thereby as well as the angular motion of the clappers, and the small axial components of their motions between the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 are equal and opposite to each other so that each counterbalances the other in directions transverse to the axis of the solenoid. Furthermore, the clappers 14, as well as the counterbalances 15, turn about their axes in opposite directions and the corresponding parts being of equal weights these motions balance each other.

energized. At 45 is positioned a non-magnetic metal ring which acts as an alternating current shading ring, and at 46 are positioned terminal leads for the solenoid 1.

It is preferable also to so arrange the parts that the extent of motion of the rod 6 and the parts carried thereby is somewhat greater than the distance between the contacts 27 and the terminal contacts 28 and 29 so that a wiping action is produced therebetween which tends to keep the contact surfaces clean.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 4 that a plurality of switches may be actuated by the relay and by suitable choice of the terminals 28 and 29 of each switch, the corresponding switch may be made either normally open or normally closed as desired.

Also it will be noted that each of the switch arms is individually supported by a rod 41 which passes through a spring tongue 40 partly severed from each of the switch arms 26. This construction enables the switch arms to be moved through yielding connections which lengthen the bending movement and which facilitate the making and breaking of the circuit and the wiping contact between the contact button 27 and the terminals 28 and 29.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the relay is insensitive to position, gravity, or shocks, the movable members being fully counterbalanced and that the controlling current required due to the relative sizes of the cores and clappers can be made to be very small.

I claim:

1. In combination, a solenoid having a magnetizable core, a pair of clappers pivoted on opposite sides of the central axis of said core, each of said clappers having a non-magnetic rod movable axially through said core and with opposite sides of which said clappers engage to-rnove said rod axially as said clappers swing toward and from said core end, said counterbalances being efiective to'counterbalance the swinging of said clappers and the axial motion of said rod and parts carried thereby, and an electrical contact actuated by the axial movement of said rod.

2. In combination, a solenoid having a magnetizable core, a pair of clappers pivoted on opposite sides of the central axis of said core, each of said clappers having a soft iron portion extending adjacent to said axis and positioned to pivot on its respective axis to swing toward and from one end of said core, a non-magnetic countenbalance extending outwardly from each of said clappers, a nonmagnetic rod movable axially through said core and with opposite sides of which said clappers engage to move said rod axially as said clappers swing toward and from said core end, said counterbalances being effective to counterbalance the swinging of said clappers and the axial motion of said rod and parts carried thereby, a spring operatively engaging said rod and holding said clappers away from said core except when said solenoid is energized, and an electrical contact actuated by the axial movement of said rod.

3. In combination, a solenoid having a magnetizable core, a pair of clappers pivoted on opposite sides of the central axis of said core, each of said clappers having a soft iron portion extending adjacent to said axis and positioned to pivot on its respective axis to swing toward and from one end of said core, a non-magnetic counterbalance extending outwardly from each of said clappers, a nonmagnetic rod movable axially through said core and with opposite sides of which said clappers engage to move said rod axially as said clappers swing toward and from said core end, said counterbalances being effective to counterbalance the swinging of said clappers and the axial motion of said rod and parts carried thereby, a spring operatively engaging said rod and holding said clappers away from said core except when said solenoid is energized, a non-magnetic metal layer between said core and clappers preventing actual contact therebetween, and an electrical contact actuated by the axial movement of said rod.

4. In combination, a solenoid having a magnetiza ble core, a pair of clappers pivoted on opposite sides of the central axis of said core, each of said clappers having a soft iron portion extending adjacent to said axis and positioned to pivot on its respective axis to swing toward and from one end of said core, a non-magnetic counterbalance extending outwardly from each of said clappers, a nonmagnetic rod movable axially through said core and with opposite sides of which said clappers engage to move said rod axially as said clappers swing toward and from said core end, said counterbalances being effective to counterbalance the swinging of said clappers and the axial motion of said rod and parts carried thereby, a spring operatively engaging said rod and holding said clappers away from said core except when said solenoid is energized, a non-magnetic shading ring adjacent to said core end, and an electrical contact actuated by the axial movement of said rod.

5. In combination, a solenoid havingamagnetizable core, a pair of magnetizable clappers pivotedoncpposite sides of the axis of said core to move toward and from one end of said core, said core end having a recess coaxial therewith, a non-magnetic rod movable lengthwise through said core, a spool member carried by said rod and adapted to enter into said recess, said clappers having portions for engagement with said spool member to move said spool member into said recess when said solenoid is energized, mechanism operatively connected to said rod to be actuated by such movement, non-magnetic counterbalances carried by said'clappers and arranged to counterbalance the motion of said rod and parts carried thereby and the rocking motion of said clappers and each other, and an electrical contact actuated by the axial movement of said rod.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a pair of spring arms having oppositely disposed terminal contacts, a switch arm located between said contacts and having a button portion intermediate said arm adapted to contact either of said terminalcontacts, saidarm having a tongue partly struck therefrom on one end relative said intermediate button portion, a stationary member having a portion secured to said tongue, and means coupled to said switch arm on a second end opposite said one end and with said button portion therebetween for moving said arm tobring its button selectively into and out of electrical connection with said terminal contacts.

7. In combination, a solenoid having a magnetizable core, a pair of pivoted clappers turna ble in opposite directions towardsaid core when said solenoid is energized, means normally holdi'ng said clappers away from said core, an axi'ally movableoperating rod operatively connected to said clappers to be moved in opposite directions on energization and deenergization of saidsolenoid, means for counterbalancing the motion of saidrod, a pair of spring arms having oppositely disposed terminal contacts, a switch arm located betweensaid contacts and having a bottom portion adapted to contact either of said terminal contacts, said switch arm havinga tongue partly struck therefrom, a stationary member having a portion secured to said tongue, and meanscoupl'ed to said rod for moving said arm to bring its button selectively into and out of electrical connection with said terminal contacts.

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